Luggage carrier



`111111911111131. y 'RPOWNALL 111510386 LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Jan. 21,1925 2 Sheets-5h66 l NVENTOR Pag/nord Flaw/La ATTORNEY R. POWNALL.

LUGGAGE CARRIER June 16, 1931.

Filed Jan. 2l, 1925 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR mond BY Fwrwll ATTOR N EY Patented June 16, 1931 f UNITED STATES RAYMOND POWNALL, F ROCHESTER, NEW' YORK l LUGGAGE CARRIER Application l'ed January 21, 1928. Serial No. 248,494.

The present vinvention relates to luggage carriers and an` object thereof is to'provide in connection with a luggage carrier a gar` ment holding means which will hold garments 6 such as dresses in compact form in the carrier while at the same time making said garments readily accessible. Another object of the inf vention is to provide a garment holdmg,

means associated with a chamber top of a 10 luggage carrier and permitting the garments to be' retained within said to movement .and readily accessible without interfering with the contents of the bottom member of the carrier. Still another object of the invention is .to provide on the chambered top of a luggage carrier a plurality of lexibly connected plate like members on which the garments are adapted to beheld and which p ermit the folding of the plate like members wlth'th'e lgarments into the top of the carrier. 'A further object of the invention is to rovide a novel means of guiding a garment olding means into and out of the top of the luggage carrier. A still further object of the invention is to provide in connection with a garment holding means, in

.the form of flexibly connected late like members, a novel retaining means or holding the arment holding means in an expanded conition.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinationsl of parts all of which will be hereinafter described: the novel features being pointed out '.35 in the appended claims.

against undue Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the luggage carrier in closed position; y l. Fig. 6 is a section=on the line y'6--65 Fig. 5'; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showingv the manner in which one of theretaining de-V 155 vices cooperates with the edge of the topv member of the luggage carrier; and

Fig.' 8 is a detail view showing the manner in which the garment securing straps are de# tachably secured at one end to supporting means.

In the illustrated embodiment of thein-l vention 1 illustrates the bottom member ofthe carrier which, in this instance, is of rectangular form, and 2 indicates a' flanged top 65 member which is` hinged at the rear portion of its flange at 3 to the upper edge of the rear wall of the bottom member and provides a chambered member 'opening toward the chamber of the bottom member.- lSuitable fastening devices 4 may be employed for securing the to 2- in a closed position on the bottom mem r 1 and a gri strap 5V may be secured to the front wall o the bottom member through which the carrier may be carried. There may also be provided "a stop strap 5 which will limit the rear swinging movement of the top member on the bottom member. The bottom member'l may have at its rear a pocket 6 formed offlexible 80 material and arranged on the rear wall of the bottom member, a flexible strap '7 nor-y mlllly holds the pockets towardy the rear w l The novel feature of this invention is the garment holding means which is preferably mounted on the top member 2 to besubstantially enclosed by the latter and ismovable to utilize the bottom member for sustaining the garment holding means in open position. This garment holding means, in this instance, comprises three flexibly connected' plate like members, namely anlinner member 8, an intermediate narrow member 9 and an outer member 10.which may also act asa cover for the compartment of the cover.- The inner section 8 is hinged` at 11 to the innerI face of the top 2, preferably. between the` hinge of the top member and the free edgeof the top member so that the member 8 when 19 the garment 60 in folded position will extend from the hinge 11 toward the hinge 3 of the top member and lie in parallel relation to the top member, the width of the member 8 being such that it substantially extends to the rear portion of the flange of the top member. The intermediate or central member 9 is hinged at 12 to the free yor swinging edge of the member 8 and has a width slightly less than the depth of the flange on the top member so that it may lie in parallel relation with said flange as shown in Fig. 5. To the opposite edge of the member 9 the member 10 is hinged at 13. This member 10 is of a size slightly less than the area enclosed by the fiange of the top member so that when it fits into the top member abutments 14: may be depended from the top member for cooperatin with the free edge of the member 10 an this free edge may be notched at 15 to pass about holding straps 16 which carry members 17 of separable snap fasteners, the other members 18 are arranged on the outer face of the member 10. When the top member 2 is swung to open po sition and the member 10 is freed from the straps 16, said member 10 may be pulled outwardly and downwardly to rest on its free edge to rest on the front wall of the bottom 1, as shown in Fig. 1. i Garments or other articles of clothing may be placed in a substantially flat condition on the three members 8, 9 and 10 and beneath the elastic straps 19 which are anchored at one end at 20 to the sections 8 and 10 and have eyes 21 at their opposite ends for detachably engaging the hooks 22 arranged on the sections 8 and 10.

`lVith the end in View of supporting the garments against slipping beneath the elastic straps 19, a han er bar 23 may be provided which, in this instance, is forme-d with annular grooves providing reduced portions adapted to be received in notches 25 formed in brackets 26 which are projected from the inner face of the member 10. The garments are preferably hung over this bar 23 and then positioned beneath the straps 19. The position of the bar 23 on the brackets 26 is determined by the number of garments placed over the bar.

To the end that the hinge 13 between the section 9 and 10 does not drop into the bottom member 1 when the garment holding means is moved from closed to open position, guides 27 are preferably provided at the rear end of the bottom member 1. These guides, in this instance, are pivoted at 28 to brackets 29 on the cover 2, the pivots 28 being eccentric to the axis of swinging of the top member 2. The forward ends of these guides are provided with depending flanges 30 in which are formed'slot-s 31 lying at angles to the guides 27 and receiving headed guide pins 32. As the top member 2 is opened, these guides 27 are thrown upwardly at `their rear ends and elevated slightly' at their forward ends so that the guides are at slight angles to the upper edge of the bottom member 1 and extend across the hin ed joint between the top member 2 and the ottom member 1, thus being positioned to cooperate with the member 9 when the latter moves into and out of the top member 2. The closing of the top member 2 moves the guides 27 forwardly on the bottom member and lowers the rear ends of thev guides into the bottom member as illustrated in Fig. 5. The brackets 29 act as stops to hold that portion of the member 10 adjacent the hinge of the top member against movement in closed position.

. With the end in view of sustaining the member 8 in an angular position with reference to the top member, `after the member 8 has been swung forwardly on the top member, a retaining means may be provided which preferably moves automatically to retaining position. This retaining means, in this instance, comprises two latches or retainers 33 pivoted to the rear or inner side of the member 8 at 34 and connected by sprin means 35 in the form of an elastic strap. his spring means normally tends to move the latches 33 outwardly with reference to the edges of the member 8, and when in their outward posi-- tion, these latchesfcooperate with the edges of the side portions of the flange of the top member, and retain the member 8 in its outer an 'gular osition with the member 9 elevated from t e guides 27 and the forward edge of the member 10 resting on the forward edge of the front wall of thebottom member 1. These latches 33 have finger pieces 34 which may be engaged by the fingers to press the latches inwardly so that the member 8 may be swung into parallel relation with the top wall of the cover 2. In order to prevent wear on the inner face of the iange of the top member, wear plates 35 may be secured to the ange of the top member to be engaged by the latches 33.

In using this luggage carrier, the bottom the bottom member, as illustrated in Fig. 4:

The cover member 10 of the garment holding means is now released and swung downwardl ly and at the same time drawn forwardly so that its forward edge projects over the front wall of the bottom member 1 as illustrated in Fig. 1. During this movement, the intermediate member 9 of the garment holding means travels on the guides 27 so as to prevent the rear edge of the member 9 dropping into the bottom member, at the 'same tlme, the member 8 swings on its hinge 11. Eventually the member 9 of the garment supporting means moves out of engagement with the guides 27 and the retainers 23, which have been held in their inner positions by the side portions of the flange of the top member, under the action las '110 member being positioned in a suitable s'upedges of theopposite side portions of the fiange of the top member, thus holding the plate like member 8 in the angular posltion,

shown in Fig. 1, and the forward edge of the plate like member 10 projected beyond the front wall of the bottom member 1. In this position, garments such as dresses may be laid upon the platelike members 8, 9 and 1() and held thereto by the straps 19, preferablyy after being passed around the hanger bar 23. To collapse the garment holding means, the retainers 33 are pushed inwardly and the member 8 pressed into the top, thus drawing the plate like members 9 and 10 rearwardly and causing the plate like member 9 to ride again on the guides 27. After the members 8 and 9 are fitted in the top, the member 10 is swung upwardly to close the chamber of the top and is held in this position by the straps 16, thus making the bottom member of the luggage carrier accessible. `When the cover member 2 is swung upwardly it elevates the guides 2T from their positions within the bottom member and when the cover member is swung downwardly the guides are again lowered within ,the bottom member 1.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.A. luggage carrier comprising a chambered bottom member, a top member hinged to the rea-r wall of the bottom member and having an inwardly opening chamber, a closure for said chamber, a member hinged to the. top member within the chamber at a point intermediate to the hinge and the swinging edge of the top member, and a flexible connection between said member and the closure through which said member may be swung outwardly when the top is in open position and the closure for the chamber top is pulled forwardly.

2. A luggage carrier comprising a. chamrbered bottom member, a top member hinged to the rear wal] of the bottom member and having an inwardly opening chamber, a closure for the chamber of the top member` and two members interposed between the top member and that edge of the/'closure nearest the hinge said members being hinged together, one of said members being hinged to the closure, and the other of said members being hinged to the top wall of the top member at a point between the hinge of said top member and the swinging edge of said top member.

3. In a luggage carrier the combination with a bottom member, and a flanged top member hinged to the rear wall of the bott-om member, of a collapsible garment holding means formed of three members, onev of which is hinged to the top member between the hinge and the swinging edge of the top'member so as to lie in parallel relation with the top wall of said top member or at an angle thereto, another of which is hinged to the first mentioned member to lie substantially parallel with the rear portion of the flange of the top member or to move out of such .re-A

lationship, and the third of which is hinged to the second mentioned member to move to a position in spaced relation to but parallel to the top wall of the top member, orto a position so that it rests near its free edge on the front wall of the bottom member.

4. In a luggage carrier the combination with a bottom member, and a' flange top member hinged to the rear wall of the bottom member, of a. collapsiblegarment holding means formed of three-members, one of Ywhich is hinged to the top member between,

the hinge and the swinging edge oft-he top member so as to lie in parallel relation with the top wall of said top member or atan angle thereto, another ofV which is hinged to the first mentioned member to lie substanv tially parallel with the rear portion of the y flange of the top member or to movevout of such relationship, and the third of which is hinged to the second mentioned member to move to a position in spaced relation to but parallel to the top wall of the top member,-

or to a position so that it rests near its free i edge on the front wall of the bottom member, and means for retaining the .first men tioned member in its angular position with reference to the top wall ofthe top member.

5. In a luggage carrier, the combination with a bottom member, a fianged top member hinged to the rear wall of the bottom member, of garment holding means embodying three members, one of which is hinged to the top member between the hinge and the swinging edge of the top member so as to lie in parallel relation with the top wall of the top member or at an angle thereto, another of which is hinged to the first mentioned` member to lie substantially parallel with the hinge thereof but eccentric to said hinge and having a sliding connection with the bottom member.

6. In a luggage carrier, the combination with a bottom member` and a flanged top member hin ged to the rear wall of the bottom, of a collapsible garmeut'holding means embodying a section hinged to the inner face of the top wall of the top member between the hinge and the swinging edge fof the top member so as to lie in parallel'relation with the top Wall oit' the top member or at an angle thereto. and means for retaining `said member in its angular position with reference to the top wall of the top member, said means comprising two pivoted retainers mounted on the member and adapted to engage opposite side portions of the llange of the top member at the free edge of said flange.

7. In a luggage carrier, the combination with a bottom member, and a flanged top member hinged to the rear wall of the bottom member ofy a collapsible garment holding means embodying a section hinged to the inner face of the top Wall of the top member between the hinge and the swinging edge of the top member so as to liel in parallel relation with the top Wall of the top member or at an angle thereto, and means for retaining said member in its angular position with reference to the top Wall of the top member, said means comprising two pvoted retainers mounted on the member and adapted to engage opposite side portions of the flange of the top member at the free edge of said flange, and a common spring means acting on both retain ers normally to project them to retaining positions, said retainers cooperating with inner faces of the flange of the top member when the closing member is in closing posiso as to hold the sprmg means under oompression.

8. In a luggage carrier, the combination with a bottom member and a chambered top member hinged to a Wall of the bottom member, of a collapsible garment holding means embodying a-seotion for closing the chamber of the top member, a garment holding hanger on the inner face of said member near the sWin ging edge of the top member and a member hinged to the opposite edge of the closing member and lying within the top member tion, and when the closing member is in anon-closing position providing an extension of the closing member on which clothes suspended from the hanger may lie in an extended position.

9. A luggage carrier comprising a bottom member, a top member hinged to the rear of the bottom member and having an inwardly opening` chamber, and garment holding means formed of a plurality of members hinged together edge to edge, one of said members being hinged to the top wall of the top member between the hinge of said top member and the swinging edge of said top member.

10. In a luggage carrier, the combination with a bottom member and a flanged top member hinged to the rear wall of the bottom member', of a garment holding means embodying a plurality of sections hinged together edge to edge the inner member being hinged to the inner face of the top Wall of Y the top member between the hinge and the' 

